There's no question the terrible economy, fickleness of the fishing, some days of rough seas and the cost of fuel have played a part in the slow start to the offshore ocean fishing season.
But if you've been waiting for the fish to arrive, wait no more. When overnight fishing boats start averaging more than three albacore a rod, that's the time to get out. And that's what the sport fleet is getting right now – three or more albacore a rod, and some boats are getting more. Long-range boats fishing farther south are having exceptional catches of albacore, bluefin, yellowtail and dorado.
“I'm very encouraged at what we're seeing right now,” said Captain Buzz Brizendine of the Prowler out of Fisherman's Landing. “There's good fishing in one-day range, but even better, there's good fishing farther down. And that fish is moving up.”
Captain Tommy Rothery on the Polaris Supreme found that new area of albacore outside San Martin. Rothery returned yesterday from a five-day trip that had anglers weary from doing the albacore shuffle on a bigger grade of longfin.
“On our first half-day of fishing we had an excellent bite on albies of 30 to 40 pounds,” Rothery told Bill Roecker of FishingVideos.com.
Napa's Paul Hess, the trip's chartermaster, took the jackpot with a 42.4-pound albacore, which Roecker said was a season best. It was tied when Stephen Nevarov of Needles checked in a 42.4-pound albacore he caught on the Independence's five-day journey.
Captain Roy Rose of the Royal Polaris returned from a three-day charter trip with 80 bluefin tuna, the best count for that tuna this season. The top bluefin went 38 pounds and was caught by Robert Mitchell.
Captain Mike Lackey's Vagabond had good fishing on floating kelp paddies, with tuna and yellowtail showing. Steve Stachelski of Alpine won first place for his 41.6-pound albacore that hit a sardine on a 4/0 Mustad hook with 30-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon and 30-pound Izorline. Glen Davis of Lakeside took second place with a 41-pound longfin.
Captain Justin Fleck of the Excel found good fishing on a five-day run for a group that included some young anglers.
“We found a kelp that gave up 50 yellowtail, 38 albacore, 18 bluefin and six dorado,” Fleck said of the offshore grand slam. “It wasn't much of a kelp (paddy), no bigger than one of the tables in the galley.”
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Archery: Bow hunters get in the woods first, get longer hunting seasons and often enjoy hunts in solitude compared with their hunting brethren with guns. For a look at the latest in archery hunting and archery hunting opportunities in San Diego County, join Super Slam holder Bob Fromme at his Performance Archery Shop on July 26. Fromme has invited Primos pro staffer Jimmy Rizzo to give a free seminar on elk and deer hunting. Factory reps from various archery and hunting companies will be on hand to answer questions. Demo shoots will be available on some of the new products from Sims Deadzone, PSE X-Force (rated the fastest bow on the planet), Mathews DXT Drenalin and Drenalin LD Bows. Fromme, who is celebrating his 14th year in business, is offering great giveaways and deals. Three bows will be given away, and all bow purchases of more than $199 include a package of goodies, including six matching carbon arrows. Performance Archery is located at 8390 Miramar Place, Suite C, in San Diego's Miramar neighborhood. Check
www.performancebowhunting.com. Hunter safety: Fletcher Diehl's next hunter safety class is Aug. 2-3. Call him at (619) 448-3321.
Yellowtail rookie: Brandon Grigsby of San Diego caught his first yellowtail ever on the Dolphin's half-day run yesterday out of Mission Bay Sportfishing. He lobbed a sardine into a spot of distant boils to get the forktail.
Cabezon: Scientists from Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute will release 60 cabezon juveniles into California waters today as part of the Rockfish Replenishment Program. It's the first time cabezon have been cultured and released.
Ed Zieralski: (619) 293-1225; ed.zieralski@uniontrib.com
